Vending apparatus



July 14, 1953 A. M. SIMON, JR., ETAL 2,645,544

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1950 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l I:

INV ENTOR$ Alfonso M. S|mon Jr. BY Arthur P. Gluck TTORNEY y 1953 A. M. SIMON, JR., ETAL 2,645,544

VENDING APPARATUS Filed. Sept. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4O 20 l4 l5 l7 l4 INVENTORS Alfonso M. Simon Jr Arthur P. Gluck A AORNEY Patented July 14, 1953 VENDING APPARATUS Alfonso M. Simon, Jr., New York, N. Y., and Arthur P. Gluck, Paterson, N. J.; said Gluck assignor to said Simon Application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,736

15 Claims. (Cl. 31252) The present invention relates to vending apparatus, especially of the coin controlled type, of the kind generally used for the self-service vending of merchandise to the public.

The present invention is directed; primarily, to the provision of vending apparatus of the character described which operates on a new and novel principle not believed to have heretofore been utilized for the purpose.

More specifically, vending apparatus of the same character as that of the present invention, as heretofore made, generally relied on a pushing movement to discharge the articles or packages vended therefrom; the articles or packages being pushed out of a stack either by a forward or rearward movement of the ejecting mechanism, without any positive engagement of the article or package by the ejecting mechanism. The present invention, on the other hand, contemplates a provision of vending apparatus of the character described wherein the ejecting mechanism positively engages the article or package to be vended and discharges it by pulling it out of its place in the stack.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of vending apparatus of the character described having a single ejecting mechanism which may selectively eject articles from any one of a plurality of vertically superposed'magazines, the number of which is limited only by the requisite height of the individual magazines which may vary according to the bulk of the merchandise and the convenience of the purchasing public. I

The present invention contemplates the provision of vending apparatus of the character described which, because of the positive pulling rather than pushing ejecting movement, is capable of conveniently vending articles of great thinness, particularly greeting cards or similar articles of small bulk as well as articles of greater bulk.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of vending apparatus of the character described from which only a single article, even of the thinnest, may be ejected at any one time.

The present invention contemplates further the provision of vending apparatus of the character described having an ejecting mechanism which is automatically aligned in accurate ejecting position with respect to each magazine, to thereby make vending easy and convenient for the customer as well as avoid damage to the apparatus :and to the ejecting mechanism.

The present invention contemplates still further the provision of vending apparatus of the character described wherein the ejecting mechanism may not be operable except when aligned in accurate ejecting position, to thereby avoid the chance of loss to customers when the apparatus is coin operated and to further avoid possible damage to the apparatus and to the ejecting mechanism.

The present invention contemplates yet further the provision of vending apparatus of the character described which is of simple construction, which discharges the merchandise in position for convenient access by the customer and which is otherwise simple, easy and convenient to use.

The foregoing and other advantages and superiorities of the vending apparatus of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the one embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the vending apparatus of the present invention, without any casing, showing the ejecting mechanism in position for vending an article from a stack disposed in one of a series of superposed magazines;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, partly broken away to show details of structure and operation; the broken lines indicating the position of the ejecting mechanism and the article being ejected at the end of the ejecting movement;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of ejecting blade and fingers that may be utilized in the apparatus of the presentinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, as viewed from the front, of one of the magazines of the apparatus showing means that may be provided for preventing the discharge of more than one article or package therefrom.

Generally stated, the present invention consists in the arrangement of the articles to be vended, particularly greeting cards or the like, in envelopes having flaps such as the conventional sealing flaps of mailing envelopes; arranging these envelopes in a stack with their flaps down and over one another in any one of a series of open bottom magazines which are superposed over one another in spaced relaion to one another; and pulling these envelopes out from the bottom of the stack by a mechanism which engages their flaps into position where they may be manually engaged for removal from the apparatus. The means for pulling an envelope from the bottom of each magazine may consist of a single ejector that is manually movable vertically alongside the stack of magazines and which is automatically alignable adjacent each magazine for movement in and out to engage the flap of its bottom envelope.

Referring now more specifically to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, the vending apparatus includes a preferably rectangular base, it, of metal or the like, over a central portion of which a plurality of box-like magazines each having an opening in its bottom and each generally designated as H, are arranged in spaced superposed relation.

Each of the magazines i! may preferably be formed of a single rectangular sheet of metal or the like which is bent into substantially u shaped form with its fiat web portion l2 arranged uppermost and its depending side portions i3 being inwardly offset, to provide a bottom wall consisting of the supporting flanges M for the side edges of envelopes between which flanges there is left a bottom opening l5.

Each of the magazines l l is also provided with a wall It at its front end, leaving its rear end are provided with the sealing or similar flaps is. The front wall it is preferably of lesser height 7 than the side portions 53, extending from the web [2 to a point short of the bottoms of the side portions Iss as to leave a slot-like front open ing l8 of sufficient width to permit the withdrawal therethrough of the bottommost of the envelopes I! and which is connected to and is continuous with the opening I between the flanges l4.

The magazines H are supported in parallel, horizontal position, in vertically spaced relation to one another, with their openings IE3 down. They are supported, preferably, along their rear portions, as by means of being secured, as by welding or soldering to the upright posts 28, suitably secured on the base ii! adjacent its rear edge; such uprights 29 being preferably the form of angle bars. By this manner of support, the horizontal spaces 2! between the magazines H are left free along-the greater part of their area to permit the movement therein of the ejecting mechanism hereinafter described.

The ejecting mechanism is arranged in a vertically running areaway along one side of the column of magazines ll. Such ejecting mecha nism is preferably guided and supported between a pair of spaced upright posts 25 and 25 which are suitably secured on the base plate IO adjacent its front edge and in advance of the front walls N5 of the magazines II.

The ejecting mechanism includes a horizontally disposed plate or carriage 2 having guideways 28 formed over its upper surface by means of upwardly and inwardly bent flanges 29. The carriage is supported in an upright plate 30, which is retained and guided within facing grooves 35 in the posts 25 and 26. A relatively thick plate 32, secured on the outer face of the plate 36, through which the carriage Z'E passes, may be 4 utilized to afford rigidity to the carriage 2?. The carriage 21 extends partially outwardly and partially inwardly of the plates 38 and 32.

A plunger 35, which may comprise a fiat piece of metal having a finger piece 36, at its forward end is arranged to slide reciprocably on the carriage 21, with the longitudinal edges thereof re tained and guided in the guideways 28.

It may here be stated that a coin-receiving recess 31 may be provided in the plunger 35 and mechanism of a well-known character, may be associated with the carriage 27 and the plunger 35 whereby the insertion of a coin into the recess 31 and its movement inwardly by the plunger will release the ejecting mechanism for operation. Since, however, coin control mechanisms of various kinds are well known in the art and do not form part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings.

It may be further stated that the coin control mechanism, instead of being mounted directly on the carriage 21, to release the ejector for movement, may be mounted separately and may be arranged or devised to control the movement of the carriage itself, is so desired in a manner which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and which is not thought necessary to be specifically illustrated as the particular coin control mechanism and its locationdoes not constitute any part of the present invention.

Mounted on the inner end of the plunger 35, in upwardly spaced relation thereto, to permit its movement over the carriage flanges 28, is a plate 40. An ejector bar or blade 4| is mounted on the inner corner of the plate A!) and slightly in advance thereof, as by means of the rearwardly offset blade stem 42, in position that when the plunger 35 is pulled outwardly, the blade il will be positioned directly forwardly of and parallel to the front walls It of the vertical column of magazines II.

The blade ll is provided adjacent each end thereof, preferably in position to clear the magazine flanges M, with a pair of forwardly and inwardly directed fiat ejector fingers 43 extending from the rear edge of the blade 4! and over the top surface thereof in slightly spaced relation thereto and projecting beyond the forward edge of such blade.

The main principle of operation of the vending apparatus of the present invention now becomes apparent. A number of envelopes ll containing the merchandise intended to be vended are arranged in each of the magazines I I; with the different magazines receiving the same or different types of merchandise as may be desired. The

envelopes H are arranged one over the other with their flaps l8 down and forwardly disposed so as to be located adjacent the front walls 16 of the magazines. The envelopes I! will be supported on the magazine flanges It and the lowermost envelope will have its flap [8 extend over the bottom opening 15 of the magazine, usually in slightly separated position from the body of the envelope by reason of the force of gravity.

The plunger 35 which, before every vending movement, is, generally, disposed in forward position, or which may be moved into forward position, with the blade 4| in front of the magazines H, is then moved up or down as desired to be brought in position wherein such blade is in register with the space 2| below the magazine H from which it is desired to discharge merchandisc. The plunger 35 is then pushed inwardly,

, above the insertion of a coin, when necessary, so that the blade Al is disposed below the rear portion of the magazine above it, rearwardly of the flap I8 of the envelope extending into such space.

The plunger 35 is then pulled outwardly, the blade 4! moving below the envelope flap [8 but its fingers 43 entering between the flap l8 and the body of the envelope H, to engage within the fold between the flap and the envelope body, and to pull the envelope outwardly from the magazine in position where it may be manually grasped and removed the remainder of'theway from th magazine.

Certain refinements in the mechanism of the apparatus, particularly for facilitating the movement and operation of the ejecting mechanism as well as for its automatic adjustment in proper relation to the space between the magazines and to prevent its operation and consequent possible loss to the customer when in improper alignment,

have been provided.

Thus, in order to steady the vertically moving plate and prevent its binding, as well as to provide for the automatic adjustment of the ejecting bar M in proper relation to each of the spaces 2| between magazines H, as it may be selectively moved thereadjacent, there are provided a pair of upright rails 44 and d5, slightly to the rear of the posts 25 and 26, respectively, and extending inwardly to greater proximity to one another than posts 25 and 25. One of the rails, as M, has a straight inner edge 45, and the plate 36 has mounted on its inner face a pair of grooved wheels 41, the grooves of which engage overthe straight edge 46 of such rail. The other of the rails, 45, has a wavy or notched inner edge 58, and the plate 30 has pivoted on its inner face a rocker arm 49, preferably of approximately L- hape, carrying a grooved wheel 56 at one end, the groove of which fits over the wavy edge 48 of said rail 45, and the other end of which is resiliently secured to the plate as by means of a coil spring 5|, which tends to press the wheel 5!] against the edge 48 of the rail 45 and to force it into the trough or notch position 52 on such edge. The troughs or notches 52 and the end of the rocker 49, supporting such wheel, are so arranged that when the wheel 50 is positioned in a trough 52, the plate 30 is disposed in position to have the blade 4! opposite one of the spaces 2| between the magazines I I.

To facilitate the movement and the automatic adjustment of the ejecting mechanism, the carriage 21 may be counterbalanced by means of a weight 55, which is disposed on the outer side of the carriage and is supported by a cable 51, one end of which may be secured to the bracket 58 on the inner face of the plate Eiland the other end of which may be secured to the top plate 59, supported on the posts 26, 25 and 26; such cable passing over a pulley 5E, mounted on the plate 59 and over another pulley Si, preferably of lesser size, mounted on the top of the weight 55. By this arrangement, the force required to move the carriage 2! of the ejecting mechanism up or down for its automatic adjustment in place, with the wheel 5B in one of the troughs, is greatly reduced and such movement of the ejecting mechanism is accomplished with a minimum amount 7 of displacement of the counter-balancing weight.

In order to prevent the inward movement of the plunger 35 when the ejecting mechanism is not in vending position, to thereby avoid loss to the customer as well as damage to the apparatus, an upright register bar 62 is provided adjacent the rear outer corner of the plunger 35 and a plate 63 is mounted on the outer edge of the plate 40, the rear edge of which will abut the upright bar except when it is in register with the notches 64 of the register bar; such notches being arranged to coincide with the position of the plate 63 when the ejecting mechanism is in proper ejection position from any one of the magazines.

The magazines may be provided with means for their adjustment to vend merchandise of different thickness. For that purpose a plate 65 having adjusting slots 65 formed therein may be secured in Place on the front wall it to regulate the size of the openings Hi. If desired, such plate 65 may be formed of resilient material, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so as to serve as a wiper to hold or push back the envelope ll immediately above the bottom envelope which might otherwise be carried along with the bottom envelope, due to frictional engagement between them.

To prevent any tamperin with the merchandise arranged in the magazines from the front end of the apparatus, without at the same time interfering with the vertical reciprocation of the ejecting bar t! in front of the magazines and also permit the manual engagement of the partially withdrawn envelopes, there may be pro vided at the front of the apparatus a grille plate 68 having horizontal 'slots 6! in register with the spaces 2! between magazines and having a vertically concave central portion 68. The grille plate 65 may be supported in a groove formed in the post 2%,at one edge and in a corresponding groove formed in another upright post 65, supported at the other end of the base plate ill, with the inner face of the concave portion 63 sufficientiy spaced from the front of the magazines 2! to permit the movement of the blade il between it and the front of such magazines, but very close to the forward edge of the blade in its most forward position. By this arrangement, the envelope it being pulled out by the ejecting fingers 13 will have part of its forward edge pulled into the concave portion 68 of the grille plate 66, in position where such portion may be manually grasped for withdrawal.

It may here be stated that the grille plate 86 may constitute the front of a housing which may be put around the apparatus heretofore described. Such housing may be of any suitable type conventionally used in vending machines of the character to which the present invention relates and which need not, therefore, be specifically illustrated; including a rear door which may be locked and through the opening of which the magazines may be loaded and the coins received in the course of operation may be retrieved. Such housing wil also enclose the areaway in which the carriage 2i? and plunger 35 reciprocate vertically, and may include movable closure means for the front opening of such areaway of any suitable kind. Such closure means may comprise a pair of rigidly flexible strips, which may be of continuous or articulated construction. In the illustrative embodiment of the drawing, the area way. closure members comprise a pair of flat strips of a synthetic plastic material of a width slightly greater than the width of the front area way opening. One of said strips, as E8, is secured to the upper edgeof the plate 39, as between it and the thick plate 32 and extends upwardly may be of a length sufficient to close the open ing of the areaway when the carriage 2'! is in the lowermost position therein; it being disposed in curved, rearward position above the plate 59 and the pulley 60, when the carriage 21 is in uppermost position; preferably within the enclosing housing that may be provided around the apparatus.

The second strip 1| may be of similar character as the strip 10, similarly secured to the plate 30 at the lower edge thereof, and similarly guided in the grooves 31 of the posts 25 and 25; its excess length, when the carriage 2? is in lowermost position, being disposed below the plate It.

It will be understood that, if desired, the strips 70 and H may constitute portions of one continuous strip that extends above, to the rear of and below the apparatus, within the housin that may be provided therefor.

- This completes the description of the illustrated embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that such apparatus, by reason of its novel principle of operation, may be utilized to vend a great number and variety of merchandise of the very thinnest bulk, provided such merchandise can be arranged in a flapped envelope; that such merohane dise may be discharged from the apparatus by a single ejecting mechanism that is automatically aligned in vending position and that is inoperable except when in such vending position, to thereby prevent loss to customers and damage to the apparatus; and which is easy and convenient to operate and use.

It will also be apparent that numerous modifications and variations may be made in the vending apparatus of the present invention, in accordance with th principles thereof set forth above, and without the use of any inventive ingenuity. We desire, therefore, to be protected under the patent laws for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within.

the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What we claim is:

1. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of parallelly disposed boxlike magazines arranged in a column, each of said magazines adapted to support a stack of envelopes therein, said magazines each having an opening formed in a corresponding side thereof in register with the openings in the other magazines, said opening extending through an adjacent side of the magazine and connected to a slotted outlet formed in said adjacent side, and common means for ejecting an envelope from a selected magazine, including a member reciprocable in the space adjacent the opening in the selected magazine, and a finger on said member adapted to extend adjacent the opening of said selected magazine and adapted to engage the envelope facing said opening intermediate its flap and its body portion.

2. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, each of said magazines adapted to support a stack of envelopes therein, each of said magazines having top, front and side walls and parallel side flanges at the bottom thereof slightly below said front wall leaving the center of the bottom clear to permit the flap of the lowermost envelope to extend thereinto, and common means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes in each of said magazines, including a member reciprocable in the space below the selected magazine,

and a finger on said member extending forwardly thereof and adapted to engage said envelope intermediate its flap and its body portion.

3. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines adapted to support stacks of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having top, side and front walls and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in said front wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein extending from the rear to the front thereof, connected to said slit and adapted to expose a substantial portion of the flap of the lowermost envelope, said magazines secured in place by their rear portions leaving the forward portion of the space between them clear, and means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes in each of said magazines, including a member reciprocable vertically in front of said column of magazines and horizontally within the spaces between said magazines, said member having fingers on its upper surface and extending forwardly thereof and arranged in position to extend into said magazine openings and adapted to engage between the flap of the lowermost envelope arranged in the selected magazine and the main body portion thereof.

4. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines adapted to receive stacks of envelopes therewith in, each of said magazines having a top, side and front walls and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave an outlet slit in said front wall, said bottom walls each having an opening formed therein in register with the others extending from the rear to the front thereof adapted to expose the flap of the lowermost envelope in the magazine, means for selectively electing the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines, including a member reciprocable vertically in front of said columns of magazines and horizontally within the spaces between said magazines, said member having fingers extending upwardly and forwardly thereof, and arranged in position to extend into said magazine openings to engage within the flaps of the lowermost envelope arranged in the selected magazine and the main body portion thereof as it reciprocates within magazines in one direction, and a grille in front of said column of magazines arranged in spaced relation thereof, said grille having slots formed therein in register with the spaces between said magazines and a vertically concave central portion adapted to expose a portion of the envelope ejected from the selected magazine for manual engagement.

5. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines adapted to support stacks of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having top, side and front walls and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in said front wall, said bottom walls each having an opening therein in register with the others extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof and adapted to expose the flap of the lowermost envelope disposed therewithin, and means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines, including a plunger reciprocable horizontally, a plunger support rebiprocable vertically along a side of said column of magazines, and a bar extending sideways from said plunger and secured thereto in position for horizontal movement selectively in the spaces between said magazines froma point in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portions, said bar having fingers extending from its rear edge above it and forwardly thereof, said fingers arranged to underlie said magazine openings to engage between the exposed portion of the flap of the lowermost of the envelopes in said magazines and their body portion for at least partial ejection from said magazines as said plunger is moved horizontally in one direction.

6. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines adapted to support stacks of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having top, side and front walls and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in said front wall, said bottom wall having an opening formed therein extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof into said slit and adapted to expose the fiap of the lowermost envelope disposed therewithin; means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines, including a plunger reciprocable horizontally, a plunger support reciprocable vertically along a side of said column of magazines and a bar extending sideways from said plunger and secured thereto in position for horizontal movement selectively in the spaces between said magazines from a point in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portions, said bar having fingers extending from its rear edge above it and forwardly thereof, said fingers arranged to underlie said magazine openings to engage between the exposed portion of the flap and the lowermost envelopes in said magazines and their body portion for at least partial ejection from said magazines as said plunger is moved horizontally in one direction; and means for automatically aligning. said ejector bar with said spaces between magazines, including a vertically disposed bar having a cam edge, a cam follower mounted on said vertically reciprocable plunger support, and means for resiliently engaging said cam follower against said cam edge.

7. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines each adapted to receive a stack of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having a top, side and front wall and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in said front wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof and adapted to expose the flap of the lowermost envelope arranged therewithin, and means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines comprising a pair of posts set vertically forwardly and to one side of said column of magazines, said posts having facing grooves formed therewithin, a plate reciprocable vertically between said posts Within said grooves, a horizontal plate set into said first plate and extending to both sides thereof, a plunger guided on said horizontal plate for reciprocal horizontal movement parallel to a side of said column of magazines, a bar extending sideways from said plunger to the rear of said vertical plate in position to be reciprocated horizontally from a point in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portions, and fingers on said bar extending from the rear edge thereof over its top surface and to a point forwardly thereof, said fingers arranged to underlie said magazine openings and adapted to engage between the flap of the lowermost envelope and its main body portion to partly withdraw said envelope from said magazine on the forward reciprocation of said plunger.

8. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines each adapted to receive a stack of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having a top, side and front wall and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in sai front wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof and adapted to expose the flap of the lowermost envelope arranged therewithin; means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines comprising a pair of posts set vertically forwardly and to one side of said column of magazines, said posts having facing grooves formed therewithin, a plate reciprocable vertically between said posts within said grooves, a horizontal plate set into said first plate and extending to both sides thereof, a plunger guided on said horizontal plate for reciprocal horizontal movement parallel to a side of said magazines, a bar extending sideways from said plunger to the rear of said vertical plate in position to be reciprocated horizontally from a point in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portions, and fingers on said bar extending from the rear edge thereof over its top surface and to a point forwardly thereof, said fingers arranged to underlie said magazine opening and its main body portion to partly withdraw said envelope from said magazine on the forward reciprocation of said plunger; and means for automaticall aligning said bar with the spaces between said magazines, including a vertical rail having an indented cam edge, a cam follower mounted on said vertically reciprocable plate, and means for resiliently urging said cam follower against said cam edge, said indentations in said cam followers arranged with respect to said bar to bring said bar in register with a space between magazines when said cam follower is disposed within an indentation on said cam rail.

9. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines each adapted to receiv a stack of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having a top, side and front wall and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave a slit in said front wall, said bottom wall having an opening therein extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof and adapted to expose the flap of the lowermost envelope arranged therewithin; means for selectively ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from each of said magazines comprising a pair of posts set vertically forwardly and to one side of said column of magazines, said posts having facing grooves formed therewithin, a plate reciprocable vertically between said posts Within said grooves, a counterbalance for said vertically reciprocable plate, a horizontalplate set into said 11 first plate and extending to both sides thereof, a plunger guided on said horizontal plate for reciprocal horizontal'movement parallel to a side of said magazines, a bar extending sideways from said plunger to the rear of said vertical plate in position to be reciprocated horizontally from a point in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portions, and fingers on said bar extending from the rear edge thereof over its top surface and to a point forwardly thereof, said fingers arranged to underlie said magazine opening and its main body portion to partly" withdraw said envelope from saidmagazine on the forward reciprocation of said plunger; and means for automatically aligning said bar with the spaces between said magazines, including a vertical rail having an indented cam edge, a cam follower mounted on said vertically reciprocable 'plate, and means for resiliently urging said cam follower against said cam edge, said indentations in said cam followers arranged with respect to said bar to bring said bar in register with a space between magazines when said cam follower is disposed within an indentation on said cam rail.

10. In vending apparatus of the character described, a plurality of horizontally disposed magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another, said magazines each adapted to support a stack of envelopes therewithin, each of said magazines having top, side and front walls, and a bottom wall slightly below said front wall to leave an envelope-removing slit within said front wall, said bottom wall having an opening formed therein extending from a rear portion thereof to the front thereof and adapted to expose the'flap of the lowermost of the stacker envelopes arranged therein with their flaps disposed forwardly and downwardly; means for selectively ejecting at least partially the lowermost of the envelopes in each of said magazines, saidmeans including ahorizontally reciprocable plunger arranged to one side of said column of magazines, a vertically reciprocalole support for said plunger, a bar-extending sideways from saidplunger toward said magazines of a length to extend thereunder, said bar reciprocable with said plunger from a point directly in front of said column of magazines to a point adjacent their rear portion; means for automatically aligning said bar selectively with said spaces between magazines, including an. upright rail having a cam edge, a cam follower on said vertically reciprocable plunger support; and means for limiting the horizontal movement of said bar to itsv reciprocable positions in register with said spaces, including a vertical post adjacent a rear corner of said. plunger, said post having notchesv formed thereinin register. with the horizontally reciprocable-position of saidbar.

11. In vending apparatus of the character described, including a plurality of horizontally disposed, magazines arranged in parallel in a vertical column in spaced relation to one another and means for selectively, ejecting the lowermost of the envelopes from the bottom of each of said.

and lower edges of, said plate and having their longitudinal edges received and guided within said posts.

12. In vending apparatus of the character described, a column of vertically spaced magazines each adapted to receive a stack of envelopes therewithin and having means through which an envelope may be ejected and means for selectively ejecting an envelope from each of said magazines including a plate reciprocable parallel to said column of magazines, means for supporting and guiding said plate for said parallel movement, a second plate set into said first plate at right angles thereto and extending to both sides thereof, a plunger guided on said second plate for reciprocable movement perpendicularly to said first plate and parallel to a side of said column of magazines and means extending from said plunger for engaging an envelope in a selected magazine between its flap and body portion for moving an envelope through said ejecting means.

13. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for guiding and supporting said reciprocable plate'includes a pair of spaced rails arranged parallel to said column of magazines and having edges facing in the direction of one another, and cooperating means on said plate and said rail edges for interengaging one another to limit the movement of said plate to a direction parallel to said rails.

14. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for guiding and supporting said reciprocable plate includes a pair of spaced rails parallel to said column of magazines and having edges facing in the direction of one another and grooved wheels rotatably mounted on said plate and engaging with their grooves over said rail edges. 7 r 15-. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein said supporting and guiding means for said reciprocable plate include a pair of spaced rails to the rear of said plate and parallel to said column of magazines, said rails having edges facing in the direction of one another, the facing edge of one of said rails being straight and the facing edge of the other of saidr-ails having a cam sur face, a pair of grooved wheels rotatably mounted on said plate in position to have their grooves engage over saidstraight rail edge, a rocker arm mounted onsaid plate oneend of said arm having a grooved wheel secured thereto in position to engage said cam edge and tensioning means connectingthe other end of saidrocker arm to said plate to resiliently press said last grooved wheel against saidcam edge.

ALFONSO M; SIMON, JR. ARTHUR P. GLUCK.

References Citedlin the file of this. patent UNITED STATES; PATENTS Italy Nov. 14, 1929- 

